League Talks By Katherine Crawford Andrews
As we all know, the past two years have looked very different for New Orleans and the members of JLNO. We all went from being easily connected to the city and its people to a mainly virtual world, where we garnered connection and volunteered through a screen. Looking towards a new League year, we asked our members to share advice with the Lagniappe readers and other members on how they can stay more active, meet more people and feel more connected to New Orleans and the League.
Lynn Spearman Active • 6 Years
Lindsey Chapman Active • 8 Years
Did you feel that it was challenging to be as active in JLNO this past League year compared to years past? In some ways yes, but in others no. I think we still have good virtual options. It was challenging to not be able to physically see and interact with other members, and particularly to do volunteer work, but I found that some of the virtual opportunities actually enabled me to interact more directly and personally with members I may not have been able to in a larger space/format.
What activities/volunteer opportunities have made you feel more connected? I was glad to have volunteer opportunities after Hurricane Ida. I don’t have the skills/ability to gut or rebuild houses, so it was great to have extra opportunities with the Diaper Bank and Second Harvest. We all wanted to help out, but we were dealing with the effects of the storm here in New Orleans as well.
What activities/volunteer opportunities have made you feel more connected? I found that virtual committee meetings and council meetings sometimes enabled more connection surprisingly, since it was easier for some members to join and to be able to more easily put names and faces together. What advice would you give members who have only known the virtual years of JLNO and are struggling to feel connected? We have so many fun activities and opportunities in a normal circumstance that we are all excited and hopeful to be able to do it again at some point in the future. Your time in the League is always going to be what you make of it, so do your best to stay engaged however you can. Join clubs that you are interested in, and those will be really helpful to make connections through. The League is so big that I highly recommend finding ways to interact in small groups so that you can make more connections. And stick with it—we will get back to in-person fun one day!
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JLNO Lagniappe Spring 2022 | jlno.org
What advice would you give members who have only known the virtual years of JLNO and are struggling to feel connected? Volunteer! I’ve met so many great women at Second Harvest and Diaper Bank shifts. Go to Esprit events if you can. Everyone is excited to be there and wants to meet you. Do you have any advice for those who are looking to join JLNO this year? If you are looking to spend more time volunteering or becoming a better leader, JLNO is the place for you. It’s overwhelming to choose where to spend your time/ energy in a city like ours. JLNO provides so many opportunities, and you can tailor your experience to your schedule.
